Siheyuan: At the beginning, I can integrate everything!

With its special equipment shining brightly in exercises, Future Technology Group's position in the military industry is now rock solid.

But Zhang Huaimin's gaze did not linger on those cold weapons.

"Food is the most important thing for the people."

Zhang Huaimin sat in his office, flipping through a national agricultural output statistics report.

Despite China's rapid economic development in recent years, agricultural production still faces bottlenecks. The yield potential of existing varieties is nearing its limit, and issues such as supporting planting techniques, water and fertilizer utilization, and lodging resistance restrict output. While basic food security is ensured for the people, there is still a long way to go before they can consistently enjoy high-quality refined rice.

"With the backbone of a major power's national defense already in place, we must hold our rice bowl firmly and keep it full."

Zhang Huaimin closed the report, his expression resolute.

The next morning.

Zhang Huaimin rode in a special car into the core experimental field of the Southern National Academy of Agricultural Sciences.

The southern climate is mild and humid, with vast stretches of paddy fields shimmering with blue waves. In the experimental field, an elderly academician with graying temples, who has been cultivating hybrid rice for decades, is bending over to check the rice seedlings. His trouser legs are covered in mud and water, and his skin is tanned dark from years of sun exposure.

He was the founder of hybrid rice research in China, dedicated his life to rice fields, and his lifelong wish was to keep everyone away from hunger.

"Old academician, take a rest first."

Zhang Huaimin walked up to the edge of the field and handed over a clean towel.

The elderly academician straightened up, wiped the sweat from his brow, and looked at the young man before him with admiration in his eyes. He had long heard of the breakthroughs that Zhang Huaimin's team had made in the fields of new materials and heavy industry.

"Huaimin, you're such a busy man, what brings you to my muddy experimental field?" The old academician said with a smile, a hint of expectation in his eyes. "I guess you didn't just come to visit the rice paddies."

"I have carefully reviewed the national agricultural survey data." Zhang Huaimin looked at the boundless experimental fields. "Based on the existing breeding of hybrid rice, I want to collaborate with the Academy of Agricultural Sciences to tackle key problems in several areas, including gene editing improvement, stem fiber strengthening, and light energy utilization efficiency optimization, to further boost rice yield."

"Continue to increase production?" Several experts from the Academy of Agricultural Sciences behind the old academician turned their heads in surprise upon hearing this.

A researcher wearing a straw hat cautiously spoke up: "President Zhang, the current yield per mu of hybrid rice is already among the world's best. To continue increasing the yield, the load-bearing capacity of the rice stalks becomes a hurdle. If the ears are too heavy, they are very prone to lodging in strong winds. This is an objective limitation of plant growth."

The experts were not questioning Zhang Huaimin, but rather basing their comments on scientific principles summarized from years of field experiments. Crop growth has a physiological limit; unilaterally increasing ear weight will disrupt the plant's balance, ultimately resulting in more harm than good.

Zhang Huaimin nodded slightly, understanding everyone's concerns. He took off his coat, rolled up his trousers, and carefully stepped into the paddy field.

"What I brought this time is a bio-fiber reinforcement technology solution derived from our team's new materials laboratory, as well as a molecular breeding approach for optimizing the photosynthetic pathway of rice. It's not about making changes out of thin air, but about targeted screening and improvement based on existing excellent rice varieties."

He crouched down and gently stroked the tender green rice seedlings.

"Our plan is to specifically strengthen the cell wall toughness of rice stalks to improve the plant's resistance to lodging; at the same time, we will optimize the photosynthetic efficiency of leaves so that rice can accumulate more starch under the same light conditions. We will conduct small-scale comparative trials together to gradually breed stable varieties."

Over the next few months, the experimental fields became the main battleground for everyone. Researchers took turns recording data on temperature, water and fertilizer, and rice plant growth, repeatedly comparing the differences between the control group and the improved group of rice seedlings, and constantly adjusting the breeding program.

In the golden autumn season, the yield measurement will begin.

When the ministry leaders, Lin Zhentian, and a group of research leaders arrived at the experimental field, the sight before them made everyone stop and marvel.

The improved rice is growing well: the stalks are thick and strong, the plants are about two meters tall, and the fiber strength has been greatly improved. When the autumn wind blows, the entire paddy field stands tall and stable, without any signs of lodging. The rice ears are full and large, and the grains are firm and plump.

"Prepare for harvesting, conduct on-site yield measurement!" The old academician's voice was filled with barely concealed excitement.

The researchers carefully harvested, threshed, and weighed the grains in designated areas, strictly adhering to agricultural yield measurement standards at every step.

Rice grains were continuously fed into the weighing equipment, and the numbers on the screen slowly settled.

The recorder gripped his notebook, holding his breath.

"Actual yield per mu (unit of land area) exceeded 2,100 kilograms!"

As soon as the news broke, an uncontrollable cheer erupted from the fields.

A yield of 2,100 kilograms per mu (approximately 0.16 acres) is a major milestone in rice breeding. This is not a miracle that appeared out of thin air, but the result of interdisciplinary collaborative research and breakthroughs in breeding science, bioengineering, and cultivation techniques.

"This variety is resistant to lodging, tolerant of fertilizer, and highly adaptable. If subsequent multi-regional introduction trials go smoothly and it is widely promoted, it can greatly enhance domestic grain reserves and further strengthen the food security defense line." The old academician held Zhang Huaimin's hand tightly, his eyes full of satisfaction.

"People can not only have enough to eat, but also have a stable supply of high-quality rice."

The news underwent rigorous verification before being released to the public by the agricultural department. Major domestic media outlets subsequently reported on this significant agricultural breakthrough, generating nationwide excitement. The public felt genuinely reassured seeing the fruits of researchers' hard work in the fields.

The news quickly spread around the world. The international agricultural research community was shaken, and many overseas scholars who had previously held prejudices against my country's agricultural technology began to re-evaluate China's breeding capabilities. Many countries sent requests for exchange, hoping to conduct agricultural technology cooperation.

Inside the Zhongnanhai office, an urgent telegram was delivered to the leader.

After reading the contents, Secretary Song's face lit up with joy, and he reported to the leaders present and Zhang Huaimin.

"Leadership, the International Committee on the Scientific Study of Food has sent a letter inviting Mr. Zhang Huaimin and the joint team from the Academy of Agricultural Sciences to participate in the selection of this year's International Agricultural Science Award to recognize our interdisciplinary innovative achievements in the field of high-yield rice breeding."

The leader smiled and looked at the two of them: "This honor belongs to the entire joint research team and to the millions of agricultural workers who are rooted in the fields."

Looking out the window, Zhang Huaimin knew clearly: behind every seed lies the continuous struggle of countless researchers. High-yield varieties are only the first step; there are still regional trials, improved seed breeding, and the promotion of supporting planting techniques—a long and arduous road. The ultimate goal is to safeguard fertile land, cultivate superior seeds, and firmly hold the rice bowl of the Chinese people in our own hands.